Dinosaur Dramatic Play

Preschoolers love dinosaurs – so a dinosaur dramatic play center is perfect for capturing their imaginations! This dramatic play center is just right for budding paleontologists, museum curators, and more.

How to Set Up a Dinosaur Dramatic Play

It really doesn’t take much to turn the typical dramatic play center into an archeological site! A trip to the dollar store is first on the list.

Dinosaur Dramatic Play Dollar Store List

• mini flashlights
• tape measures
• magnifying glasses
• plastic dinosaurs
• binoculars
• paintbrushes

More Supplies

Of course, not EVERYTHING is available at the dollar store. A few more supplies make this dinosaur dramatic play even more special. Also useful:

• explorer’s helmets (found at a party store)
• plaster of Paris
• sand
• sensory table or sensory tubs
• rocks, shells, and other

The main attraction at the Dinosaur Dramatic Play is the Dig Site at the sensory table. Of course, a little preparation from the teacher is required. Fill the bottom with some plaster of Paris (the crafting kind). Before it is fully dried, stick inexpensive plastic dinosaurs and dinosaur skeletons (all from the party favor aisle of the dollar store!) in the plaster. Add some large dino footprints for extra excitement. When it is fully dry, top with some sand and a few rocks or shells.

Read a book like Digging Up Dinosaurs by Aliki during storytime and discuss that it takes a team of people to find and remove fossils. Students use the name tags to decide which job they are going to do at the dig site.

All of the paleontology tools are stored in labeled baskets near the dig site.

At the nearby science center, students can examine real fossils and read more about paleontologists.

All of these Dino Dig labels, nametags, full-color Betsy book, and field journals are included in this Dramatic Play Center pack.  Enjoy!